Alumni Win Press Awards

Alumni now standing, talking; waiting for game to continue.

Overheard typical greeting by two welldressed men in early forties: "Why, hi Joe, glad to see you!" 'Tom, you old so-and-so! How're you do-

ing?,,

First gentleman then enquired after second's business. Business fine. Making plenty of money. Conversation then turned to families. Everybody well and happy. Finally topic of alma mater brought up. Dilemma of football team discussed. Men concerned over no victories. Suggestion made that more money needed for football scholarships. Decided that not problem, academic standards must be lowered. Too many good half-backs flunking out.

Left two businessmen to solve problems of higher education. Saw small crowd growing near registration booth and ambled over. Found Clayton posing for photographer in midst of group of girls. One of girls kissing him while photographer urging them to get closer and growing crowd of envious alumni heckling. Learned that girl doing bussing Miss Shirley Hill, homecoming queen . Others members of court. Photographer finally finished, Clayton disappeared into crowd, girls headed for dorms to prepare for afternoon's parade. Since no more girls to watch crowd of men soon dispersed.

Discovered that football game had resumed. Was told Bullis Prep was future Navy team. Soon found informant must know what he was talking about, for Bullis was beating Richmond by several touchdowns. Some of the hungrier alumni began moving into gym where luncheon was beginning. Game soon ended in rousing freefor-all much to thrill of crowd. Heard comments from several old-timers saying game's ending reminded them of good old days of pre-World War I football. Everybody seemed pretty happy about team's showing despite fact they lost. One spectator said he thought school should begin fielding boxing teams again.

Everybody by now heading for luncheon in gymnasium where ladies from Westhamp ton had already gathered.

Stopped on way when notes of singing reached ears. Soon discovered four alumni singing song composed by John J. Wicker, Jr., ' 13. Leading quartet was Wicker. Other participants were Pete Dunford , '15, Dick Walden '2 2, and Dinks Hartz, '21. Small group of spectators nearby. Everyone agreed Dunford was wicked tenor. Four soon ended rendition, received applause and retired for dinner. Everyone seemed to feel song was good and quartet could carry pretty good tune.

Finally went to lunch where found whitejacketed waiters serving Brunswick stew under scrutiny of Dr. Wheeler.

Ate food-excellent. Saw J. Vaughan Gary, '12, and Paul Saunier, '40, his secretary. Chatted with Saunier for few minutes about politics. Saunier left; chatted with several other alumni, then I left.

Arrived at City Stadium around 1 p.m. Watched parade with crowd of enthusiastic students. Group of alumni nearby seemed impatient for game with George Washington to begin, but wives were content with colorful floats. Typical homecoming parade: number of floats featured football fields or hanged players. One had model of Mt. Vernon. Another reflected recent news headlines and featured guided missile, called "Merrick's Missile." Couldn't help wonder ing why didn't have moon and call it "Spider Sputnik." Reasoned might be too controversial politically.

Game finally started. Spiders gave good performance. First half ended and usual homecoming festivities began. Jesse Dillon, '31, new State Corporation commissioner, crowned queen. Noticed queen and court wore suits this year instead of bare-shoulered evening gowns. Asked Westhampton informant who verified suspicions that previous ceremonies had been too cold. After getting crown and kiss from Dillon, queen handed out trophies for best floats. Phi Kapp:, Sigma received both trophies for allaround best float and best fraternity float. Winning float was giant spider.

Following awards, crowning and concert by band, game was resumed. Spiders continued performance of first half and won game by 13-6. Everybody happy. Alumni seemed quite pleased. Overheard same two businessmen of morning agreeing maybe higher education wasn't in such bad fix after all.

Jones Friddell Duke Crawford Weekley

University of Richmond alumni had a virtual monopoly on the top awards for journalistic excellence in the Old Dominion in 1957.

Overton Jones, '3 7, editorial writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, received the Virginia Press Association's first place award for the best daily editorial writing .

Guy Friddell, '46, political reporter for the Richmond News Leader, won the award for the best daily news writer, and Paul W. Duke, '47, a member of the staff of the Associated Press, won the news service writing award. (Duke transferred recently from the Richmond to the Washington bureau of the Associated Press) .

Richmond Crawford, Jr., '50, of Richmond Newspapers Inc., won the award for the Virginia Press photographer of the year.

Another alumnus, Larry Weekley, '52, of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, shared with

Ed Grimsley the first place award for a series of articles in daily newspapers.

In addition to capturing top honors in the news writing field, Friddell was runner-up for an award in the daily column-writing category. Crawford won runner-up and honorable mention awards for daily feature pictures as well as other runner-up and honorable mention awards for daily sports pictures.